This Report presents information compiled by WIPO from nine fact-finding missions conducted in 1998 and 1999 on the intellectual property needs and expectations of holders of traditional knowledge. The purpose of the Report is to provide information to WIPO Member States, holders of traditional knowledge, including indigenous peoples, the private sector, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutions and other interested parties, on the intellectual property needs and expectations of traditional knowledge holders expressed to WIPO during the fact-finding missions.

FFM to West Africa

This publication is part of a series of background papers prepared by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) dealing with intellectual property issues in relation to genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions/ folklore. It is intended to provide a comprehensive analysis of the policy issues that arise in the debate over improved intellectual property protection of TCEs/folklore, as an information resource for policy makers, negotiators, legislators, indigenous and traditional communities, users of traditional cultural expressions/folklore, researchers and others interested in exploring these issues in detail.

This publication, prepared under the aegis of the WIPO Creative Heritage Project by two external consultants, Ms. Molly Torsen and Dr. Jane Anderson, offers legal information and compiles practical experiences on the management of intellectual property for cultural institutions whose collections comprise traditional cultural expressions. It seeks to respond directly to the needs of cultural institutions and indigenous and traditional communities dealing with the preservation, safeguarding and protection of cultural heritage.

This study has emerged from an ongoing program of trilateral cooperation between WHO, WTO and WIPO. It responds to an increasing demand, particularly in developing countries, for strengthened capacity for informed policy-making in areas of intersection between health, trade and IP, focusing on access to and innovation of medicines and other medical technologies.

This commentary has been drafted by the Secretariat of Unesco and the International Bureau of WIPO.

This is one of a series of Booklets dealing with intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions/folklore.

General information on the interface between intellectual property (IP) and traditional knowledge (TK), traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), and genetic resources (GRs). It briefly addresses the most important questions that arise when considering the role that IP principles and systems can play in protecting TK and TCEs from misappropriation, and in generating and equitably sharing benefits from their commercialization, and the role of IP in access to and benefit sharing in GRs.